I do not own Bates Motel.
But, in some ways, I do own a Dylan. And I love him so much.
Yeah, Whatever
Life in the Sun
Dylan Masset loved his Seattle home.
They had found it to rent a month before the . . .
"Dad, I don't want to hurt your feelings but . . .
"Not another word, baby girl. You've got a new lease on life. You've got to take it. I'm so proud of you."
. . . arrival of sweet Kate
A small, two bedroom, two bath suburban dwelling.
Dining room/living room combo.
Small but efficient kitchen.
Their bedroom, complete now with a cosleeper thing for the baby.
Two bathrooms stocked with bubbly bath soap and Emma's ever present . . .
"Small price to pay for life."
. . . immunosuppressant medications.
And Katie's room, where so far she was changed and took the occasional nap . .
"Just fifteen minutes, sweet baby, okay?"
"Fifteen minutes? I wouldn't mind more."
"We're starting with fifteen minutes."
. . . so Mommy and Daddy could have some private time.
There was a patio out back complete with a grill . . .
Hey, look at me. I'm a grill guy.
. . . and if they stayed here long enough, he was already planning on hooking up a baby swing to the tree in the front yard.
It was alot like the apartment they had shared with Will.
Except sometimes smellier . . .
"Katie, wow!"
. . . and with slightly less Victorian literature.
Dylan Masset loved his house.
No one had never been attacked with a meat tenderizer . . .
"What are you doing?! I told you not to do that!"
"Don't call her a whore!"
. . . in their little kitchen.
Nobody had ever been shot . . .
"It's okay, Norma. It's okay."
. . . in their cozy bedroom.
Nobody ever screamed or yelled or threw dishes or threatened to kill themselves or any of the other crap that had been the shitstorm of his life up until he had left White Pine Bay with Emma and Will.
Life wasn't perfect.
Katie sometimes pooped so much that tired Daddy Dylan . . .
"Wow, okay, uh, Emma, can you bring some more wet wipes? And call The Exorcist please?"
. . . wondered if her colon was under some sort of demonic possession.
He had to practice staying calm whenever Emma got a cold.
It's okay, it's alright, that's why we're in Seattle. That respiratory center is the best in the country. Just stay calm.
And whenever he stubbed his toe on the crib.
"Oww, son of a b- button, that hurt!"
But it was a great life, better than he ever imagined life could be.
Seattle had its ups and downs.
What is it with the Pacific Northwest? Doesn't it ever stop raining?
But at least he'd never run anybody down in a truck here.
Almost gotten killed protecting a pot field.
Or had any sort of crazy parental figure dealings . . .
"Dylan, I just want to tell you one thing."
"If I hurt your daughter, you'll kill me?"
"No. I'm proud of you."
"Oh. Th-thanks, Will."
. . . at all, fact.
And liked it that way.
He had a real legit job as a hops distribution manager. Just earned a promotion, in fact.
He paid his taxes.
He took out the trash.
And he loved his family.
"Hey, there's the birthday girl."
He set the grilled corn on the stove top as his beautiful wife turned to face him.
They were beautiful, Emma and Katie.
"How're my girls?"
Emma was a wonderful mother.
Katie was a wonderful baby.
"She was a little fussy but she's calmed down now."
Ah yes, the power of the pacifier. And the Mommy.
And grateful Daddy Dylan . . .
"How did I get so lucky?"
. . . was just glad to be a part of them.
Emma'a dark eyes were warm, as always.
Haircut still something he was getting used to.
"I've got a baby now, Dylan, and I'm not going to be fussy with her just because my hair's getting in my way."
"Huh, good point."
"Of course, it is."
But change was good.
Their changes anyway.
"Well, you had quite a tour of duty in the lower levels of Hell, so . . ."
That was his sweet Emma, reminding him he hadn't been the crazy one all along.
Yeah, but I'm better now, Emma. It's all better.
Because of you.
I'd be nothing without you. Worse than nothing.
I'd be me without you.
And that she believed in him. Loved him.
That they were free.
He was happy for her, that she felt free.
It made his prison of lies easier to live within.
Emma's happy. Emma's not being hurt by this.
This is why I lie.
Because I don't know anyway.
And now Katie.
Katie.
After two months of parenthood, he still didn't always know exactly what he was doing with her . . .
"Here, give her to me."
. . . but he knew he was going to figure it out.
And be the best dad and husband he could.
"You go enjoy your party."
Forever.
"I gotcha, I gotcha."
I'll always gotcha, sweet girl.
He cradled his baby girl in his arms, fussing a little with her pacifier.
Watching his beautiful, strong, gentle wife amble toward the buffet of party food they had set out. . .
"Wow, twenty-one, huh? You're getting on up there, Decody."
Emma grinning sweetly.
"That's right, Massett. I'm going to live forever too so you just better get used to the idea."
Catching his lips with her own warm ones, those delicate, strong fingers soft on the nape of his neck.
"You better," he murmured, pulling her close. "You've promised now."
It was a joke, laughing in the dark, whistling through the graveyard.
Those lungs of hers wouldn't last forever, there was no telling how much longer they had.
But they were living life while they had it. Appreciating the blessing.
Living in the sun.
Which was pretty great.
And quite a feat considering the climate of Seattle, Washington.
. . . and knowing he loved her more than anything in the whole world.
And Dylan Massett was very, very grateful.
I love you, Emma.
I love you, Katie.
She just wanted everything to be nice.
Norma.
That was why she had always had trouble feeling anything but resentiment and disdain for him.
He was a constant reminder of an entire era of her life when things had not been nice.
When they had moved, Norma and Norman, she had cast aside everything that reminded her of the misery in which she had lived for the entirety of her life previous.
Everything except Norman.
Who, if their names were anything to go by, completed her.
And Dylan was no part of any of that.
And therefore, unwelcome.
The end.
Roll credits
Dylan guessed he understood.
More than before.
He and Emma and Will had moved resolutely forward upon arriving in Seattle.
And more so now he and Emma since the advent of the existence of Katie.
And Dylan knew a little of how Norma must have felt when Caleb showed up on their doorstep during . . .
Shitshitshit.
. . . Emma's birthday party.
Terrible timing, man.
And Dylan did not know . . .
Shit.
. . . what to do.
Alright, here we go with season 5! You all ready?
I won't lie, it's gonna be a long haul and I should know because it was a long haul writing it. I'm exhausted.
Maybe not daily updates but close to it.
Thanks to DinahRay for your sweet review!